Question
(redacted)
September 12, 1985
Andrew Scanlon, Esq.
Bureau of Competition
Federal Trade Commission
Sixth & Pennsylvania, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
Re: Pre-Merger Notification
Dear Mr. Scanlon:
Pursuant to your suggestion, I am providing you with a written description of the hypothetical transaction involving two not-for-profit hospitals that we discussed by telephone this morning. As you know, our concern is simply to determine whether the Commission considera [sic] a transaction of this type a reportable event under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (Act). You indicated you would immediately circulate this hypothetical to the appropriate people within the Commission to obtain a consensus, then promptly notify us whether, in the Commissions view, such a transaction is reportable under the Act.
The hypothetical transaction is as follows:
1. The Parties
A is a private not-for-profit hospital. It issues no voting stock or other securities. Its [sic] assets (including all of the stock of a for-profit subsidiary venture) and revenues (including the income from that for-profit subsidiary) each exceed $100 million, and it is in commerce.
A is governed by a board of directors consisting of 7 members. Six of these directors are elected by the membership of A, which consists of any persons who wish to be members and who have made significant charitable contributions to A for at least the last three consecutive years. The membership of A is fragmented. The seventh member of As board is the president of A as selected by the other six directors of A.
B is also a private, not-for-profit hospital. It too issues no voting stock or other securities and its assets and revenues each exceed $10 million . It is in commerce.
B is affiliated with, but not legally a part of, a state-run university and medical college. B is governed by a board of directors consisting of 17 members. Seven of them are selected by the governor of the state with the consent of the state senate. Seven others are ex-officio based on their being specified officers or directors of the university and medical college. The final 3 are ex-officio based on the holding specified positions at B.
2.The Transactions.
A.The Change in As Board.
By amendment to its by-laws, A will expand the number of members on its board of directors to 13 in two classes. Class 1 will consist of 6 seats under the control of the current six members of As board. These 6 directors will have the power to elect the directors for these 6 seats, and there will no longer be an electing membership.
Class 2 will consist of 6 seats. The directors for these 6 seats will be selected by the chairman of the board of directors of hospital B from among the directors of B. The thirteenth member of As board will be As president as selected by the remaining 12 board members.
B.The Management Contract.
The board of B will enter into a management contract with A under which A will operate Bs hospital, subject to the approval authority of Bs board over As selection of management personnel and rate-setting. The management contract will be for 10 years, non-cancellable, and will automatically renew for successive 5 year terms thereafter, unless the board of B provides notice of termination prior to a renewal term. A will receive a maximum fee of $300,000 per year for its management of B.
3.The Issues.
Our concern is, of course, whether either or both of the hypothetical transactions
are reportable under the Act and regulations. Accordingly, we seek the Commissions answer to the following:
a.Does the Commission consider the by-law expansion of As board,
as described, a reportable acquisition of A by B? If so, how should it be treated for reporting purposes (e.g., as an acquisition of As voting securities by B)?
b.Does the Commission consider the management contract as
described as reportable acquisition of B by A and, if so, how should it be treated for reporting purposes (e.g., as an acquisition of Bs assets by A)?
c.If either transaction is reportable, who is the ultimate parent entity
of hospital B for reporting purposes, in light of the substantial control over the selection of Bs directors by the state and the state-run university?
We appreciate your prompt attention to these questions and look forward to your guidance.
Sincerely,
(redacted)
(redacted)
STAFF COMMENTS: T/C 9/17/85 10:15 AM Scanlon
Advised that transaction is reportable with B acquiring 50% of the v/s of A - He will report that way. Andy Scanlon